MORAGA — John Haffner has carried a special card in his wallet more than half his life. It’s something he picked up while serving in the U.S. Navy. It reads, “I lead by example and my actions epitomize honor, courage and commitment.”

Living by this creed and leading by example are some of the many reasons his peers nominated him for the 2009 Moraga Citizen of the Year Award.

“My core values are loyalty and making sure things get done. I live by four bullet points written on the back of that card,” said Haffner, 62, who then listed each while molding them to fit his life. “Am I doing the right thing? Do my actions bring credit to the town of Moraga? Am I setting a positive example to those around me? and Would I have my decisions made public?”

The card is in his wallet, Haffner said, “because those are my core values. What it does, every once in a while, let’s make sure the head doesn’t get too big. (I am) still humble John Haffner from Vallejo, California.” (He moved to Moraga in 1969).

The card and the credo obviously have worked. Haffner will be honored at a banquet Friday, May 1 at the Soda Activity Center on the Saint Mary’s College campus. But instead of accepting accolades for his relentless community service work, Haffner credits the hundreds of other volunteers in Moraga who do the same thing every day.

“This award is not necessarily about John Haffner. It’s just this year I was selected. There are numerous people involved here in town, giving up their time to volunteer — people with lots of stuff on their plates,” explained Haffner, who retired from the Navy Reserves in 1999 as a captain and from the pharmaceutical industry in 2004. “Yeah sure, I’m part of six or seven organizations, but I would contend there are many other people in Moraga similar to me, involved in those as well.”

Haffner currently serves on the Moraga Parks and Recreation Commission and helped with its foundation from 2001 to 2005, serving as foundation president in 2004. He’s also Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley’s 2nd vice president, soon to be 1st vice president in October — the position longtime Moraga resident Tim Freeman now holds. Haffner and Freeman joined the service organization around the same time. Freeman said Haffner is “definitely a role model for others.”

“They just need to look at what he’s done over the past number of years. John is a dedicated volunteer who has spent thousands of hours serving Moraga,” said Freeman, who is working with Haffner and Kiwanis’ ecology team to help pick up trash at Long’s LPGA Tournament at Danville’s Blackhawk Country Club in September. “He’s a modest guy, but look at the track record he has demonstrated over the past number of years. You’ll see his modesty covers up a lot of his volunteerism.”

Haffner said he did not come from a community service oriented family. He attributed his introduction to volunteerism to neighbor Ken Tom — also a Kiwanis member and 2008’s Moraga Citizen of the Year. Haffner volunteers his time and ideas to the Moraga Chamber of Commerce, Moraga Citizens Network, the Moraga Movers, the Moraga Historical Society and the Lafayette Veterans Memorial board. However, he is best known for keeping one of Moraga’s time-honored traditions alive.

“The Pear Festival … Last year, town staff wanted to cut the annual festival to save money. It was my first year as park commissioner and I felt I had the opportunity to keep it going,” Haffner said. “I publicly stated it was an egregious mistake to cancel the festival and I would take responsibility to make it happen.”

“We had a lot of great booths at the event where fees to have one covered costs. But, it wasn’t just me who made it happen.”

“The way I’ve always tried to manage is inclusion — include as many people as possible to get things done. There’s always someone in charge and I’m fully capable of being in charge.”

Haffner was born in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to California at the age of 6. He and wife Darlene have been married for 40 years. The couple never had children of their own, but are godparents to five, ranging in age from 25 to 35.

“Military service teaches you, one day you’re in charge, one day you follow. You have to be able to role play. My MO is to get all involved, spread the wealth and rewards so everyone comes out a winner.”

Moraga Citizen of the Year dinner
When: Friday, May 1
Where: Soda Activity Center, Saint Mary’s College campus, Moraga
Tickets: $40 per person; call Larry Swindell at 925-376-5692 for more information. Reservations due by April 29
Co-sponsors: Lamorinda Sun and Kiwanis Club of Moraga Valley.

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